Find the advert here!The four member states of the Mano River Union (MRU: Côte d´Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) are among the least developed countries in the world. Their political and socio-economic conditions are shaped largely by mineral and natural resources.In this context, it is promising that all four states have begun reforming their minerals sectors in recent years to encourage sustainable development. Although reforms have already been implemented in accordance with the African Union’s Africa Mining Vision (AMV), some of the key elements required to ensure that the extractives sector in MRU states contributes to sustainable development and attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are still lacking.The objective of the "Regional Resource Governance in West Africa” program is that the extractive sector in the Mano River Union countries is geared to a greater degree towards the principles of social, ecological and economic sustainability. It supports partners in their efforts to reduce their dependence on external assistance in the long term and to mitigate risks (economic, social/conflict and environmental) arising from the mining sector.To this end, it applies a multi-stakeholder approach to cooperate with governments, civil society and the private sector at the regional, national and local level.The three substantive focus areas of the program are:Improve the framework conditions of public institutions to fulfil their oversight and compliance monitoring roleImprove the information available to both communities in mining areas and civil society organizations (CSOs) to enable them to demand accountability in the extractives sectorWork on approaches to increase contributions by the extractives sector to economic development at the national and local level.GIZ has teams in each of the four MRU countries working with the national stakeholdersYou will be based depending on interest and competences either in Monrovia (Liberia) or Abidjan (Côte d´Ivoire). You will be working on a range of issues and tasks but preferably also be assigned to a long-term task/activity that will directly support the Resource Governance in West Africa Programme in one of the above-mentioned focus Areas.Please be informed that you are only allowed to apply for this internship, if you are currently enrolled as a student or graduated not longer than six months ago.We pay a monthly stipend of €1.580,- (gross). Depending on the country of assignment a monthly expatriation allowance (gross), predetermined by GIZ will be paid on top.GIZ would like to increase the proportion of employees with disability, both in Germany and abroad. Applications from persons with disabilities are most welcome.If you have any questions, please contact Stefanie HEERWIG (stefanie.heerwig@giz.de)Find the advert here!See More

AusIMM, the Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices (ACSMP) and the University of NSW will jointly host the 9th international conference on Sustainable Development in the Minerals Industry (SDIMI) 2019.The conference will bring together practitioners, researchers, regulators and civil society to discuss sustainable development in the minerals industry and how the latest in technology innovation in mining and minerals processing are contributing towards sustainable mining.See More

Voters in a queue at apolling booth to cast their vote, in Delhi Assembly Election-2008, on November 29, 2008. Attribution: Election Commission (GODL-India)This April and May, 2019, will see parliamentary elections in India, a national poll that has international significance – not least with respect to the politics of “global heating.” Electoral ContestationThese elections will be fought out between two mainstream blocs: the National Democratic Alliance of current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a bloc lead by his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); and the United Progressive Alliance led by Rahul Gandi, scion of that pre-eminent Indian political family, and leader of once-dominant Indian National Congress (INC). Until fairly recently, it seemed that the election would be a walkover for Modi and the BJP, however recent mishaps and (more charitably) able INC campaigning has seen a significant tightening of opinion polls. Nevertheless, the BJP remains firmly in the box seat. Incumbency - Modi’s BJPLet’s start with the BJP’s plans, not least in light of the BJP’s opinion poll lead and the fact of their incumbency. All in all, the BJP is the default natural starting point for consideration of All-India political discourse, given the centrality that the party has achieved at the federal level. Positively, the BJP identifies that "mitigating (the) threat (of climate change) by building a low carbon economy is the biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century." Hence, in its manifesto, the BJP commits, if reelected to All-India government, to "pursue national growth objectives through an ecologically sustainable pathway that leads to mitigation of GHG emissions, recognising that containing global warming is essential to protecting [the] life and security of people and [the] environment." Congress – the INC – and, naturally, GanhdiIn the meantime, the INC’s manifesto commits, like that of the BJP, to investing in non-fossil fuel energy generation including renewable energy. A distinguishing feature of INC downstream energy policy is its particular commitment to nuclear energy; the 2019 manifesto reflects a continuation of that policy preference. The manifesto also commits the INC to creating a special purpose vehicle aimed at good governance of India’s natural resource endowments: “We will ensure that an independent regulator monitors the process of natural resource allocation in a manner that best serves the nation’s interest.” Personally, I am not convinced by, in particular, the INC’s governance initiative as presented above, since it seems vague and non-specific, and perhaps directed at kicking the difficult issue of a low-carbon energy transition as far down the road as possible, rather than making difficult, painful but necessary decisions on global heating mitigation.A backward look at the INC’s most recent track record in government (i.e. to 2014) is instructive on climate change issues: the party’s record in that government is neither woeful nor wonderful, but rather suggestive of seminal change away from unhelpful and unresponsive policies on tackling global climate-change, to a more constructive and positive position.The one person who embodies this seminal shift is that of the INC’s Power Ministry Minister of State, Jairam Ramesh, who represents a bridge from the previous Indian government positions to the ones of the present day. Ramesh was in Ministerial post at the time of 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) and both his interventions, and the perceptions of such intervention, is illuminating. He was seen as offering ‘some degree of credibility internationally’ on climate change policy, which is itself a loaded observation regarding the status quo ante, which he progressive policy development he pursued ‘even if this meant compromising on some aspects of the traditional position.’ The evidence cited for this political entrepreneurship being a leaked letter to his boss, the Prime Minister of India (Vihma, 2011, p.76).Nevertheless, the policy movement that he represented could not stop COP 15 ending in widely perceived failure, and with India slated as one of the two main villains of the piece, as evidenced by the newspaper headline “how China and India prevented an agreement on tackling climate change at the crucial meeting”.Expert Criticism of Both PartiesIn this day and age, where post-truth, “alternative facts” behemoths stalk the globe, it may seem anachronistic to some to actually quote the opinions of any expert. But I shall do so, and unashamedly: without taking aim at any one political party specifically, Leena Srivastava, Executive Director of The Energy and Resources Institute (New Delhi), argues that: "the value of the sustainability commitments in the election manifestos put forward by various parties is very low. The energy and environmental challenges facing the country are so critical that merely playing around with words is unlikely to win elections-the Indian electorate is smart. A radically different non-partisan commitment to these issues is required, and irrespective of the government in power."Hoping for BetterIndia and the world ardently hopes for far better climate change fare from its politicians than is currently being served up by both the BJP and the INC. At least the BJP has a record of delivery in government on these issues, but perhaps this is more of a factor of it being most recently (currently) in government – policy and practice under the previous (i.e. up to 2014) INC-led government had already been moving in that direction, see above. Indians will of course make their own minds up on their future parliamentary representation in an election wherein climate change politics will be only one factor amongst many helping to determine the outcome of individual electors’ votes. Either way, it is hoped that a stable, representative, honest and responsive All-India government emerges that is beneficial both for India and globally through the nation’s continued leadership on matters of common and critical concern – not least climate change.Acknowledgement: Pooja Chatterjee co-authorThis article was co-written by Daniel Gilbert (based in Scotland) and Pooja Chatterjee (based in India). In an Indian policy context, Pooja is an expert on energy law relating to all aspects of the country, and Daniel is an expert on (transitioning from) coal use and mining.Read More on this Subject – 6 page full text document by the authorsSee More

Join us Monday, February 4, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., for our Mining Indaba Sustainability Forum. This year’s theme will focus on impact assessment and management in the mining sector.Visit the Indaba website for full details about this unique event and registration.Our session will address questions such as:What is the optimal timeline to review an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) report?How do ESIAs transition from exploration to exploitation?How should citizen engagement be carried out throughout the mining life cycle?When should the closure plan be submitted?What is the reality in implementation and monitoring of plans?Which institutional and technical capacities are needed in ESIA processes?Panelists for our interactive session include:Nicole Biekse, Head of Programme, Mining for Sustainable Development, Transparency InternationalDawn Brock, Senior Programme Officer, International Council of Metal Mining (ICMM)Kristi Disney, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Strategies Group (SDSG)Pierre Gratton, CEO, Mining Association of Canada (MAC)Katja Hummel, Senior Policy Officer, Raw Materials, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)This session will also feature a discussion on our ESIA global practices findings which will be the key input of our upcoming Guidance for Governments on ESIA.Team members will also be on hand at the IGF stand in the main exhibition hall in CTICC from February 4 to 7 to answer your questions and discuss IGF activities. Please stop by for more details on specific programs and activities, and how you can get involved with the IGF.See More